Destruction of Habitat and Loss of Biodiversity are Creating the Perfect Conditions For Diseases Like COVID-19
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Category: Blog
Ways to prevent Borneo’s forest fires from happening again
Want to prevent toxic haze? Start supporting frontline campaigns Clouds of toxic haze are drifting across the Malaysian peninsula once again, in the worst uncontrolled burnoff since 2015. Like the Amazon, these smog-belching fires are deliberately lit for agricultural purposes. In this part of the world the main culprits are...
Raging fires in the Amazon and Asia — what you can do to help
The Amazon is not the only place on fire this month, as industrial agriculture causes devastation across the tropics August 2019 is a record breaking fire season across the tropics. Most of us saw the disturbing satellite images from the Amazon shared on social media over the last week, our...
Tackling Energy Poverty in Sarawak
Communities in Malaysian Borneo are embracing micro-hydro as mega-dams leave them energy poor. In a plush suburban Berkeley home, newly appointed Malaysian Senator Banie Lasimbang hands around a pelton wheel bucket made from old aluminium beer cans, which are in no short supply in his home state of Sabah. These...
UN Report Says Indigenous Sovereignty Could Save the Planet
While humans have “significantly altered” environments, these trends have been less severe or avoided altogether in areas held or managed by Indigenous peoples. Originally published by Mike Ludwig, in Truthout May 7, 2019 The United Nations released a dire assessment of humanity’s impact on the world’s ecosystems and natural resources this...
Will Malaysia become Southeast Asia’s clean energy leader?
Malaysia has the opportunity to position itself as Southeast Asia’s clean energy and renewable industries leader. This article was originally published at Mongabay A silver lining of global warming is that it is forcing every nation to rethink its future, to open its mind to new possibilities. The latest IPCC...
Sarawak can invest in or give away its future
There’s no need to continue accepting tragic trade-offs between healthy rivers and low-cost, reliable, and renewable electricity. This article was originally posted at Mongabay. In October, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report outlining strategies the world can pursue to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius and maintain...
Forest protection is Malaysia’s climate ace card
What hope for Malaysia we saw at the Clean Energy Collaboration conference in Kuching. Everyone from ministers, Sarawak state authorities, NGOs and community leaders all met together to find an affordable and an environmentally and socially sustainable pathway for Malaysia to transform its energy system, and electrify its rural areas. ...
Malaysia’s Palm Oil Expansion Ban: More Greenwashing or a Signal of Real Change?
New Greenpeace report on clearcutting by palm oil groups underscores how practice persists in tropical forests. Earlier this month, Malaysia’s Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok announced that the government is committed to maintaining at least 50 percent forest cover nationwide, and will not allow any more expansion of oil palm plantations. This...
How many dam bursts are too many?
In a warming climate, dams and downpours make for a dangerous mix This week, a dam breach in central Myanmar forced an estimated 50,000 people from their homes and flooded the country’s main highway. The Swar Chaung dam in Bago region overflowed as the result of this year’s particularly generous...